| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | to denigrate |
| Synonyms: | belittle, criticize, cut down to size, dis, disparage, dump on, find fault, knock*, malign, mudsling, pan, pooh pooh, put down*, rap, rip, roast, run down, slam, slander, take a dig at, take down a peg, tear down, tear to pieces |
| Main Entry: | chide |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, lecture |
| Synonyms: | admonish, berate, blame, call down, call on the carpet, castigate, censure, check, condemn, exprobate, find fault, flay, give a hard time, lesson, monish, rate, rebuke, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprove, scold, slap on the wrist, speak to, take down a peg, take down, talk to, tell off, tick off, upbraid |
| Antonyms: | compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | complain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | grumble about |
| Synonyms: | accuse, ascribe, attack, beef, bellyache, bemoan, bewail, bitch, carp, cavil, charge, contravene, criticize, defy, demur, denounce, deplore, deprecate, differ, disagree, disapprove, dissent, expostulate, find fault, fret, fuss, gainsay, grieve, gripe, groan, grouse, growl, grumble, impute, indict, kick up a fuss, lament, lay, look askance, make a fuss, moan, nag, object, oppose, protest, refute, remonstrate, repine, reproach, snivel, sound off, take exception to, wail, whimper, whine, yammer |
| Antonyms: | applaud, approve, be content, be happy, commend, praise, recommend, sanction |
| Main Entry: | criticize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | disapprove, judge as bad |
| Synonyms: | animadvert on, bash, blame, blast, blister, carp, castigate, censure, chastise, chide, clobber, come down on, condemn, cut down, cut to bits, cut up, denounce, denunciate, disparage, do a number on, dress down, excoriate, find fault, fluff, fulminate against, fustigate, give bad press, hit, jump on, knock*, lambaste*, nag at, nit-pick, pan, pick at, rap, reprehend, reprimand, reprobate, reprove, rip*, roast, scathe, scorch*, skin alive, skin*, slam*, slog, slug, take down, trash*, trim*, zap |
| Antonyms: | approve, compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | grouch |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | complain a lot |
| Synonyms: | bellyache, carp, find fault, gripe, grouse, grumble, moan, murmur, mutter, scold, whine |
| Antonyms: | compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | grumble |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | complain |
| Synonyms: | bellyache, carp, find fault, fuss, gripe, groan, grouch, grouse, kick, kvetch, moan, protest, pule, repine, scold, snivel, squawk, whine |
| Antonyms: | compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | knock |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize harshly |
| Synonyms: | abuse, alive*, belittle, blame, carp, cavil, censure, condemn, denounce, denunciate, deprecate, disparage, find fault, lambaste, reprehend, reprobate, run down, skin*, slam |
| Antonyms: | compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | nag |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | harass, bother |
| Synonyms: | annoy, badger, bait, berate, bug*, carp at, dog*, eat*, egg, find fault, fuss, give a hard time, goad, harry, heckle, hector, hound, importune, irk, irritate, needle, nudge*, pester, pick at, plague, prod, provoke, ride, scold, take it out on, tease, torment, upbraid, urge, vex, work on, worry |
| Antonyms: | assuage, please |
| Main Entry: | niggle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | nitpick |
| Synonyms: | argue, carp, cavil, complain, find fault, fuss, grouse, grumble, moan, nag, object |